As Census closes, Oklahoma among least self-reporting states
N e a r l y 1 0 0 % o f Oklahomans were counted in the once-every-decade C e n s u s , wh i c h s a w i t s data-collection period end Thursday.
T h e s t a t e ' s 9 9 . 9 % response rate was the same as the rest of the nation: All states were given the same mark in the Census Bureau's final tally. But federal data shows Oklahoma needed more help, potentially putting the state and local communities at risk of l os i ng out on f e der a l funds, than most states to get there.
Only 61% of the state's r e s i d e n t s s e l f - r e p o r t e d their Census results by filli ng out the demographic questionnaire online, over the phone or by mail. The rest required Census takers t o f ol l ow up or vi s i t t he non-respondent's household in person to make sure they are counted.
Oklahoma's response rate was tied for 10th worst in the country and lagged well behind the 66.9% national self-response rate.
Federal, state and local officials have encouraged r e s i d e n t s t o s e l f r e p o r t the information since the Census Bureau considers the self- reported data to be more accurate and less costly than the in-person visits. Experts, including a team of UCLA researchers in a recently released study, also argue that l ow selfresponse rates put states and local governments at risk of being undercounted and, in turn, risk losing out on federal funds.
Data from residents who don't sel f - r eport can be l ess accurate s i nce, as a last resort, Census workers will rely on a “proxy,” such as neighbors, family members or even a l andlord, to provide information on someone who doesn't respond on their own and can't be reached.
I n Oklahoma City, f or example, officials estimate that each household that isn't counted by the Census costs the city about $1,675 in local federal funding per person, per year, f or 1 0 years.
T h e r e s e a r c h e r s a l s o a r g u e d t h a t t h e T r u mp administration's request to end the Census earlier than its previous Oct. 31 end date, which was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, will lead to undercounts across the nation, b u t e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g groups that need federal aid the most.
“I t i s highly l i kely and unfortunate that the 2020 Census will be flawed with s e v e r e u n d e r c o u n t s o f people of color and l owincome individuals,” said Paul Ong, co-author of the report and director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge at t he UCLA Luskin School of Publi c Affairs, in a press release. “At this juncture, it is criti call y i mportant t o start d e v e l o p i n g met h o d s t o adjust the counts to develop a more accurate statistical picture of America and its people.”
I n Okl a h o ma, r e p o r t - ing varied throughout the state ranging from Marshall County posti ng a 3 1 . 2 % self-response to Canadian County recording a 72.6% rate. Several rural counties, which have some of the highest poverty rates in the state, had the lowest response rates.
C e n s u s w o r k e r s w i l l spend the coming months tabulating the data so state lawmakers across the country can begin redistricting work, which will kick off in Oklahoma and elsewhere next year.